WASHINGTON (March 3, 2005) — Today the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee holds the first hearing on The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, H.R. 748. The bill was introduced by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl.) with 105 original cosponsors. This Act would require abortion doctors to notify parents before doing abortions on teenaged girls from out-of-state unless parental involvement or judicial authorization under the girl's home state law has been satisfied.

"It is wrong to take a child away from her parents to another state for a secret abortion, yet abortion advocates support this practice and admit that it happens all the time," said Cathy Cleaver Ruse, Esq., Director of Planning and Information for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. "The overwhelming majority of Americans believe parents should be involved in abortion decisions involving their teenaged daughters."

"This horrible practice exposes teens to the dangers of surgery without the benefit of their medical records or history, and without necessary medical follow-up," said Ruse. "We applaud the House Constitution Subcommittee for conducting today's hearing on the Act, and urge the Congress to pass this law to help to protect vulnerable girls from exploitation."

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